In Libya, Both Sides Gird for Long War as Civilian Toll Mounts

[pinboy3niner]

Source: New York Times

In Libya, Both Sides Gird for Long War as Civilian Toll Mounts

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and KAREEM FAHIM
Published: March 6, 2011

TRIPOLI, Libya — Both sides of the conflict in Libya were girding for more confrontations on Sunday, a day after militia forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi launched a new round of attacks on the rebel-held city of Zawiyah, just 30 miles west of the capital, and a ragtag rebel army moving from the east won its first ground battle to take the oil port of Ras Lanuf, about midway down the Mediterranean coast.

An hour before dawn on Sunday, Tripoli erupted in gunfire, the sounds of machine guns and heavier artillery echoing through the capital. The spark was unclear - — there were rumors of some conflict within the armed Qaddafi forces — but soon Qaddafi supporters were riding through the streets waiving green flags and firing guns into the air. Crowds converged on the city’s central Green Square for a rally, with many people still shooting skyward. The shots rang out for more than three hours, with occasional ambulance sirens squealing in the background.

Government spokesmen called it a celebration of victories over the rebels, but the rebels denied any losses; 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning is an unusual time for a victory rally, and the rally was notably well armed. Protesters in the capitol suggested it was a show of force intended to deter unrest or possibly cover up some earlier conflict. A rebel spokesman, reached over the phone, said his leadership was relying on international media reports to try to make sense of the early morning gunfire in Tripoli.

“It is very hard to reach trip, ” he said, alluding to the pervasive surveillance and recent spate of arrests. “When we talk to someone in Tripoli you put their life in jeopardy.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/world/africa/07libya.html

[maddezmom]

1. reported on Sky said some journalists were jailed inTripoli for a few hours

apparently have been released.

[maddezmom]

2. tanks massing in and outside of Tripoli

What is clear, however, is that a large military deployment appears to be under way in Tripoli and the surrounding areas, with ever more tanks visible both inside the city and in the countryside and more missile launchers seen on the roads. One column of BM-21 Grad launchers seen by the Guardian on Saturday included 11 vehicles.

If the regime is deploying for an assault on the advancing rebels, it might explain Sunday's city-wide demonstrations by supporters, designed both to spread confusion in opposition ranks and rally morale in the city.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/06/gunfire-in-tripoli-gaddafi-libya

[pinboy3niner]

3. Shows one thing: Gaddafi is desperate

If he's not afraid of a "ragtag" bunch of "rebels," why does he go to such pains to fortify defenses around Tripoli and around HIM?

Of course, the more forces he deploys to protect HIM, the fewer available for his offensives elsewhere. :)

[maddezmom]

4. Fear grows as Mummar Gaddafi hangs on

THE more confidence Muammar Gaddafi radiated in his ability to hold on to power last week, the more his opponents had to fear.

Scores of young men who felt able to protest a few days earlier when he had looked vulnerable were arrested in night-time raids. Parents have not been told where their sons are held.

"We were all in our beds sleeping when the secret police broke through our door," said Ali, a mechanical engineer, whose sons, aged 17 and 19, were taken at night with other young men from the Tajura district in eastern Tripoli.

He described how a dozen pickup trucks and 4WDs had swarmed into his street at 1am. His teenagers had been blindfolded and led into the darkness. "We do not know what prison they are in," he said. "We hear they are probably with the intelligence force."

more:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/fear-grows-as-mummar-gaddafi-hangs-on/story-e6frg6so-1226016732857

[jakeXT]

5. UPDATE 6-Libyan rebels regroup and advance on Bin Jawad

UPDATE 6-Libyan rebels regroup and advance on Bin Jawad

* Rebel forces return to Bin Jawad after ambush

* "We have our brothers in Sirte," rebel commander says

* Civilian casualties in ambush

(Recasts with rebels advancing, changes dateline)

ROAD TO BIN JAWAD, Libya, March 6 (Reuters) - Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day.

"We are just outside Bin Jawad. There are thuds of mortars landing near rebel positions, leaving puffs of smoke, and also the sound of heavy machineguns in the distance," Reuters correspondent Mohammed Abbas said by telephone.

"There's a steady stream of rebels heading back west towards Bin Jawad," he said. The town is on the road to Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, which the rebels intend to attack.

Rebels captured Bin Jawad, 160 km (100 miles) from Sirte, on Saturday but withdrew, which let army units occupy houses and mount an ambush that forced rebels back to Ras Lanuf.

...

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE72504Y20110306?sp=true

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. This is far from a done deal. The self assurance and gloating over Gaddafi's demise

here and elsewhere is more than a bit premature.

[dipsydoodle]

7. That's an issue

associated with taking media reports and tweets as gospel when in reality they are only part of the truth.

[pinboy3niner]

8. We don't take them as gospel, but the situation is unique

With the regime cutting off communication except from its propaganda organ, people are using new ways to report on events.

Twitter obviously is uncorroborated. Even a large volume of tweets conveying the same information can be a coordinated propaganda campaign. But, over time, twitter watchers can get a sense of who is reliable and who is not.

Catherina, in her threads, has culled the reports coming in and excluded those reporters whose information is suspect. The 'tweeps' are not professional journalists, and they may not hold to the standards of accuracy we expect of journalists. Still, their reports--culled by someone who has some experience with them--are a valuable resource.

It may not be gospel, but it can be a good indicator of what is actually happening in places where communication is shut down by those who want to squelch the truth.

[dipsydoodle]

11. I've got better things to do

than have a pop at Catherina and I certainly wasn't referring to her posts anyway - she's a star in my book.

So how do you know exactly who shut down communications and when ? Works both ways that one and can affect both sides.

Fidel,Raul and Ernesto didn't need any of our modern fangled stuff - they managed anyway. :)

[pinboy3niner]

12. There's no question who squelched commo in Libya

Maximum communication is in the opposition's interest. It's only Gaddafi who has both the motive and the ability to shut it down.

In the old days, Fidel, Raul and Ernesto often had to rely on word-of-mouth to spread their message. Sort of the old school Twitter. ;)

[maddezmom]

9. can't speak for anyone but myself but I take everything reported in the press

here and most places with a grain of salt. :hi:

[dipsydoodle]

10. I wouldn't have expected

otherwise from you. There is some serious steering going on with regard to this subject.

:hi:

[maddezmom]

15. thanks

I think. :) BTW, love your new sig. :hi:

[joshcryer]

13. Most of the tweets are just retweets of verified sources.

Many of the news agencies that follow the tweets verify them (AJE is one example, who, btw, is doing amazing work).

[joshcryer]

14. The tyrants want to hold on long enough that NATO feels obliged to get involved.

This way they can take out the revolutionaries. It's a suicide mission.

[defendandprotect]

16. There aren't really "two sides" in this. It's protesters/"freedom fighters" vs Gaddafi + his mercs!

Pretty much all Libyans vs Gaddifi dictatorship --